Apparatus for reforming can bodies



Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLOR, JR 2,254,250

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLOR, JR 2,254,250

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENT R. W 5 BY SMAQ 4 b ATTORNEY5 Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLOR, JR

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5ATTORNEYS Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLQR, JR

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 2,254,250 APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CANBODIES William E. Taylor, Jr., Riverside, Com, assignor to American CanCompany, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationFebruary 18, 1938, Serial No. 191,311

Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for reforming can bodiesfrom a preliminary flat shape into a cylindrical or other flnal formsuch as is universally found in the tin can of commerce and hasparticular reference to first providing an integral flange on the flator flattened body and reforming such body as a subsequent operation. Insome respects the apparatus of the present invention may be consideredas an improvement upon that disclosed in the J. A. Gray Patent1,315,114, issued by the United States Patent Oflice, September 2, 1919.

In the manufacture of tin cans it is often desirable that economy ofpacking and shipping be provided for and this may be done by shipping orstoring the can bodies while in a preliminary flat or flattened stage.In some instances the bodies are made in flat form while inother casesthe full cylindrical or near cylindrical shape may be produced by theusual body making equipment and thereafter flattened to the desiredshipping or storing condition. When either a flat or a flattened canbody is to be made into a can, the body is reformed or rounded into thefinal body shape and is then supplied with an end or bottom to producethe desired can. The present invention is directed in part to thereforming stage and in part to flanging an end of the body inpreparation for its bottom or to flanging both ends of the body prior toreforming.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus forrapidly reforming flat or flattened can bodies by flanging an end of thebody as an incident to reshaping it.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus for reforming flat orflattened can bodies wherein the body is partially opened and flangedand then reshaped in a manner that will not disturb the flange.

A further object is the provision of a can body reforming apparatuswherein the flat bodies are continuously removed from a magazine andsubjected to a partial opening step, followed by flanging after whichthe flanged and partially opened bodies are advanced through reformingrollers which are relieved to permit passage of the flanges withouttheir distortion while the bodies are reshaped or reformed.

Numerous other objects and'advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary plan details of the reforming rollers,showing in Fig. 2 a flat can body entering into and in Fig. 3 a reformedcan body leaving, the rollers;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus, parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is, a sectional view with parts in elevation of the flangingmechanism, parts being broken a y;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along thebroken line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the reforming rollers;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6;

Fig..9 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken through a can body andshowing flanging dies in (position at the end of the flanging operation;an

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the section linel0lll in Fig. 5.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings dissubstantially closes apreferred embodiment of the inventionin which flat or flattened canbodies a. are stored in stack formation within a magazine or chute A(Figs. 1 'and 6). A sliding feed device B is used to remove thelowermost body from the magazine and to position it in a flangingstation.

The flanging station includes spaced suction heads C which are adaptedto engage on opposite sides ofrelatively flat side walls of the flat orflattened can body a. The flat or flattened can body has its flat sidesjoined by partially curved connecting parts as best illustrated in Fig.6. In reforming the can body it is necessary to remove and entirelyobliterate all traces of the partially curved part so that the finishedbody may have a cylindrical or other curved wall without irregularities.

The suction devices 0 are pulled apart to separate the flat walls of thecan body as it rests at the flanging station and this initially opensthe body (as shown in Fig. 10) and forms a body I). Flanging dies D(Fig. 9) are then moved into the open ends of this body which is therebyprovided with end flanges produced by the flanging dies D. Since theflanging dies are circular their action also further rounds up the body.The partially opened and flanged can body will be designated by theletter 0.

The body 0 is then engaged by feeding elements E (Fig. 4) which push thebody into reforming rollers F. Each roller F, as best illustrated inFig. '7, is formed with transverse recesses or grooves G. The feedingelements in passing the partially opened can body into the reformingrollers F so place the advancing body relative to the rotating rollersthat the flanges come within the recesses or grooves formed in therollers.

The reforming rollers F are rotated in unison and round up the body intoits final cylindrical shape, the finally reformed body being indicatedby the letter 6 (Fig. 3). At the same time the rollers push out the canbody and eject it into an inclined discharge chute H (see also Fig. 4).

All of the various elements of the machine are synchronized so that theoperations of flanging and reforming are continuous, the operationstaking place on a processional line of flat or flattened bodies a whichare thus finally formed into cylindrical reformed, flanged can bodies d.The initial opening of the flat bodies a first into the partially openedshape I; and the further opening action of the fianging dies to producethe flangedbody c result in broadening the curve of the sharply curvedconnecting parts of the body where these parts merge with the relativelyflat wall sections. The reshaping action completes this changing of" thecurve of the sharply curved connecting parts and forms both the flatwall and the sharply curved wall parts into one uniformly curvedcylindrical can body.

The apparatus containing the principal elements just described ismounted upon a base 2| (Figs. 1 and 6) which supports a housing 22containing a part of the mechanism. The upper part of the housing 22supports the magazine or chute A.

The magazine A is formed by four vertically disposed angle irons 23which provide for guideways at the corners of the flattened bodies awhen in stack formation.

The feeding device 13 comprises a reciprocating feed member 3| whichslides within guideways formed in a horizontally disposed shelf 32. Theshelf 32 is an integral upper part of a vertically movable slide 33 (seealso Fig. 8). Slide 33 is raised and lowered in guideways formed withina block 34 which may be an integral part of the housing 22. A pair ofslide strips II are spaced along the two sides of the block 34 and areconnected therewith by screws. The inner edges of these strips overhangthe outer edges of the slide 33 thus retaining it in position forvertical movement. Thus it will be seen that the feed member II of thefeeding device moves in both a horizontal and a vertical plane. Thereason for this will be further explained.

At its lower end, the slide 33 carries a pivot pin 26 which is connectedto the upper end of an adjustable link 31. The lower end of the link ispivotally connected to a bell crank lever ll (see also Fig. 4) which ismounted for oscillation on a horizontally disposed shaft 39 supported atone end in a bracket 40 formed as an integral part of the housing 22.The opposite end of the shaft is journalled in a suitable bearing formedin the'h'ousing 22.

A short arm ll of the bell crank lever carries a cam roller 42 whichoperates within a groove 43 of a cam 44 mounted on a main drive shaft45. Rocking of the bell crank 33 under the action of the cam raises andlowers the feeding device 3.

The main drive shaft 45 is supported in bearings It carried in thehousing 22. The cam 44 acting through the bell crank It raises the feedmember 3| so that when it is in an upper plane it effects feeding of theflat can body from the magazine A into the laming station 0. The samefeeding position is aJso assumed when the flanged can body is removedfrom the station C. When in lowered position, the feed member isreturned for a subsequent feeding operation. the lowered position beinga nonfeeding position.

The main shaft ll is also a crank shaft and its crank movement is usedfor sliding the feed member back and forth, to effect the forwardfeeding action in the one case and to return the same after the feedingaction is completed. For this purpose the shaft ll (Figs. 4 and 6) isformed with a crank 41 on which is mounted one end of a crank arm ll,this crank arm being held on the shaft in working position by a cap llsecured to the inner end of the crank arm.

The outer end of the crank arm 48 is threadedly secured to anadjustableclevis II which is pivotally connected to a pin 52. The pin 82 iscarried near the middle of a rocking lever 82. The lever I8 is pivotallymounted at 84 on a bracket ll projected outwardly from the base 2| ofthe machine. The upper end of the rocking lever II is pivotallyconnected at It to a pair of links I! (see also Fig. i). The inner end,of each link ll is pivotally connected at II to the feed member 3|. Thiconstruction provides for the forward and backward movement of the feedmember.

The feed member 3| of the feeding device B is formed as an open framehaving two side walls. Each side wall at the back projects up in a shortrear finger feed dog M (Fig. 6). at the middle in an intermediate longfeed dog 62 and a similar forward feed dog 63. when the slide 33 isfirst brought into its raised position, the feed member 2| is in itsretracted or rear position. This upper position of the slide places thefeed member in an upper or feeding plane as illustrated in Fig. 6. Thefeed member 3| upon being moved through a feeding stroke effects thefeeding of three different bodies as will be explained.

First, the rear finger ll engages the outer sharply curved part of thelowermost flat body a as it rests within the magazine and slides thislowermost body toward the right as illustrated in Fig. 6. During thisremoval the can body is held against lateral displacement between spacedguide plates 84 which are mounted at one end in the magazine A and atthe other end on a bracket 65 (Fig. 4) supported on the housing 22. Thisremoves the lowermost body from the magazine A and places it in theflanging station.

As the fed body comes to rest at the flanging station it is directlyabove a lower sucker head 1| (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) of the suction devices0. This sucker head is preferably made of rubber and at the time thebody is brought into position, the upper surface of the rubber is flat,there being no suction in the head at the time, so that the lower flatside of the body easily passes over and comes to rest on top of thesucker head.

Sucker head II is mounted on the upper end of a vertical hollow shaft 12which is carried in a boss 12 formed as an integral part of a wall ofthe housing 22, this being back of the block 34. This boss is thuslocated inside of the housing 22 and directly back of the movable slide22. A screw ll threaded in the boss engages the lower end of the shaft12 and holds the suction head in fixed vertical position.

The shaft I2 is provided with a central bore II which opens at the topinto the inside of the terior therefore is in communication with theports l1, l8 and the bore I8. The pipe 18 may be joined to any suitablesource of vacuum, 1. e., suction so that when suction is applied, airwill be exhausted from the central bore. from the ports and also fromthe inside of the sucker head 'II.

A similar upper sucker head II is also a part of the suction devices(Figs. 4, and 6). Head 8| is carried on the lower end of a hollow shaft82 which is axially aligned with the lower stationary shaft 12 and hasvertical movement within a boss 88 formed in an arch frame or bracket 84which may be an integral part of the housing 22. This arch frame spansthe flanging station and is alongside of the magazine A. At the time theflat body a is moved into the flanging station the upper suction head 8|is in its upper position and is spaced from the suction head II. The canbody is slid in between the suction heads when it moves into flangingposition.

The shaft 82 is formed with a vertical central bore 85 which connectswith a transverse bore 88 near the top of the shaft. A suction supplypipe 81 is Joined to a collar 88 which is carried by the shaft 82.Provision is made for creating the desired suction in both pipes 18 and81 simultaneously and thus simultaneously withdrawing the air from boresI5, 88 of the lower and upper shafts 12, 82. This may be done byconnection with a vacuum pump, a vacuum tank or other well knownexpedient.

As soon as the flat can body has come to rest in the flanging stationthe upper suction head 8| is brought down upon the upper or top flatwall of the body. As the head descends it forces the body down so thatits lower flat wall engages with the top of the suction head 1| It is atthis time that suction is made effective in the heads '1 I, 8I and thiscauses the heads to adhere to the flat walls of the can body, the rubberheads adapting themselves in shape to the curvature of the body wall.

While the can body is thus held between the suction heads II, 8|flanging follows and it is during the flanging that the slide 33 islowered carrying with it the feed member 3| which moves down and awayfrom the can body. In its lowerm ost position the feed dog 8| of theslide member 3| is in a plane below the stack of flattened can bodies itwithin the magazine of the chute A. When in this lowered position, theslide member is moved back so that its short flnger 8| is again back ofor beyond the outer edge of the flattened can bodies within themagazine. As soon as the feed member 3| is again raised it is inposition and ready for another feeding stroke.

Reverting again to a consideration of the flat can body held between thesuction heads 1|, 8| at the flanging station, the upper head 8| is firstraised or separated from the lower head. The suction hold on both headscauses the engaged body walls to also spread apart and a partial openingof the can body is thus effected. This produces the partially openedshape b illustrated in Fig. 10. The curve of the sharply curvedconnecting parts of the flat body is thus broadened and the body is thenin condition for flanging.

The shaft 82 at its upper end is pivotally connected to a link 8| whichin turn is pivotally connected to a rocker arm 82. The arm is mountedupon a supporting shaft 88 carried in the bracket 84 and is pivotallyconnected at 84 to the upper end of a connecting rod 88. The rod 88 atitslower end is pivotally connected at 88 to one arm of a bell cranklever 81- (Figs. 4 and 6). The bell crank lever oscillates on thestationary shaft 88 and is disposed beside the bell crank lever 88. Acollar 88 fixed to the shaft keeps the hubs of the two bell crank levers88,

81 in working position.

The bell crank lever 81 is formed with an upper arm I8| which carries atits upper end a cam roller I 02, This roller operates within a camgroove I88 of a face cam I84. The cam I84 is secured to and turns withthe main shaft 48. By means of this cam controlled connection, the uppersuction head 8| is raised and lowered in proper time as alreadydescribed.

The flanging dies D (Figs. 5 and 9) comprise a pair of spaced flangingheads IIII which at the time the can body is brought to rest at theflanging station are in separated position, as shown in Fig. 5. Eachhead H8 is formed with an inwardly projecting conical end III the baseof which merges into an annular flanging groove H2. Each flanging headis carried on the inner end of a horizontally disposed slide shaft H8which is mounted in a bearing I I4 formed in the arch frame 84.

The two shafts II 8 are slid together or separated from each other inunison, this action being the result of cams carried on the main shaft45. For this purpose the outer end of each shaft 3 is pivotallyconnected at Hi to an adjustable connecting link 8 which has pivotalconnection at I" to the upper end of a vertically disposed lever H8.Each lever H8 is mounted for oscillation on a pivot pin 8 carried in abracket l2| formed as an integral part of the housing 22 and of the archframe 84. The lower end of each lever H8 carries a cam roller I25 whichoperates within a cam groove I28 cut in the periphery of a barrel cam|2'| mounted on and rotated with the main shaft 45.

The actual-flanging takes place when the conical ends II I are insertedinto the open ends of the can body I) and as the die heads H8 move overthe ends of the can body. This places the annular flanging grooves 2around the body ends and causes the metal of the end edges to flowaround into a right angle position. This produces the flange on thecanbody. The outer wall of each annular groove 2 provides a stop againstwhich the can body edge comes to rest when the body is fully flanged.This insures a uniform size and shape of flange.

In the event that only one end of the can body is to be flanged, thefianging groove I I2 will be eliminated from one of the flanging heads 8and at such time the ungrooved head will function as a stop block forthe can body as the other end of the body passes through the flangereshaping end forming operation.

For a cylindrical can the flange groove 2 will be a true circle andtherefore the can body near its ends will be nearly circular but furtherback toward the longitudinal center of the body the can walls will bemore oval shaped. The partially curved connecting parts of the flangedcan body 0, however, will be less sharply curved and this flange formingoperation will further open the can body. While the flanges are circularwhile in'the flanging dies, after removal 'the spring ,of the metal willslightly distort the flange. However, throughout the operation whichfollows. i. e., during the reforming operation, the circular shape ofthe flanged end of the body will remain substantially withoutalteration.

Immediately following the M81118. the flanging heads lit aredrawn backor further separated and the can body is freed. It is still held by.

the suction heads H, il but when the suction is broken the body c comesto rest upon the guide rails t4 preparatory to being moved into positionfor the subsequent reforming action which immediately follows.

Removal of the flanged can body from the flanging station is effected bythe next forward movement of the feeding member ii. The middle flnger I2is now in position directly back of the flanged can body, as illustratedin Fig. 6, and when the feeding member Ii moves forward. the flanged canbody is slid along the guide rail N and comes to rest at the end of thefeed stroke at an idle station, designated by the letter K (Figs. 1 and6).

The can body remains at station K as the feed member Si is again loweredand returned to its backward position on the next cycle of the feedingdevices B. When the feed member II is again raised into its upper plane,the forward finger 83 comes into position directly behind the flangedcam body as it tests at the idle station.

At the next forward movement of the feeding member, the finger I!engages and slides the flanged can body further along the guideways Nand brings it to rest at a station L (Figs. 1, 2 and 6). Here the bodycomes against astop plate I29. It is then in alignment with thereforming rollers F. As best illustrated in Fig. 2 the forward end ofone of the guide rails I4 is notched out as at Iii and it is throughthis notch that the can body is moved into the reforming rollers F bythe feeding elements E,

The feeding element E comprises a slide bar I35 (Figs. 1 and 4) which ismounted for sliding movement within a bearing m formed in an auxiliaryhousing I31, which may be an integral part of the housing 22. The innerend of the slide bar "I is cupped at I38 and this cupped end is directlyalongside of the upper part of the rear flange of the can body as itrests on the guide bar It. Bar I35 moves forward to feed the can intothe rollers F.

At the rear of the slide bar I35, its under surface is formed with rackteeth I. These teeth engage with a rack segment head I42 formed on theupper end of a lever I which rocks on a shaft or pivotal support Icarried in the housing 22. The lower end of the lever I43 carries a camroller 5 which operates within a cam groove I cut in the periphery of abarrel cam I" mounted on the main shaft 45 adjacent the face cam iill.

Thus at the proper time the upper end of the lever I43 moves forwardunder the action of the cam I" and through its gear connection with theslide bar I35, the latter engages the can body at its cupped end I38 andslides the body off of the guideways i4 and into the reforming roll ersF.

There are preferably two reforming rollers F and these are just alike.Each roller F (Figs. 1, 6 and '7) has upper and lower cylindrical rimsHI and a rounded, reforming central section in therebetween. Each rollerF as already mentioned is cut vertically in a pair of recess grooves G.The grooves G are formed by Peripheral gashes'lli and each cut is largeat the top and bottom and is narrow at its center portion. The top andbottom ends of the groove stop in the cylindrical top and bottom rimsI", 'asbest illustrated in Fig. I, and do not open out at either the topor the bottom of the roller.

One roller 1'' (Figs. 1 and 6) is mounted upon the upper end of avertical shaft III. This shaft is mounted for rotation in a bearingsleeve Ill formed on a horizontal shelf 'section III of the housing 22.

The other roller F is'mounted on the upper end of a vertical drive shaftI II which is Journaled for rotation in a sleeve bearing in also formedon the shelf section I51. The shafts ill, I are parallel and the bearingI82 is signed from and is, also parallel to the bearing Provision ismade for rotating the rollers F in unison so that the peripheralsurfaces of the rollers will travel at the same speed, the rollersturning in opposite directions. To effect the proper cooperation of arotation, the rollers are geared together and for this purpose the shaftI55 near its lower end carries a gear I" which merges with a similargear i (Fig. 6) secured to the drive shaft III.

The lower end of the drive shaft III in addition to the bearing sleeveI" is further journaled in a bearing ill (Figs. 4 and 6) which isprovided in a bracket I" extending in from a side wall of the housing22. The drive shaft Iii carries a spiral gear I" at its lower end, thisbeing below the bearing I". Gear I61 meshes with a spiral drive gear I"(Figs. 1 and 4) which is mounted on and which turns with the main shaft45. v In this manner the rollers F are rotated in unison and at acontinuous and uniform speed.

The feeding action of the feed bar ill advancing the can body c is timedwith the rotation of the reforming rollers and the front flange of themoving can body enters into mating recess grooves G of the two rollers.This is shown in Fig. 2. As the can body continues to move forward, itsside walls are engaged by the shaped middle section II! of each rollerand this trues or rounds up the can body. The walls of the cut outgashes I53 of the rollers do not strike against the can flange and theflange passes through without being bent even though the can body wallsare undergoing a complete ironing out. As the rear flange comes into therollers it passes into the second set of grooves G and is likewiseuntouched.

The two rollers F are relatively close together so that a large part ofthe wall of the can body is circumferentially engaged between theshaping walls of the middle sections I52 of the rollers. The rotatingrollers in addition to reforming the body and bringing it into thedesired true cylindrical shape also move the body along.

The fully reformed can d is thus propelled through the reforming rollersF and out of the rollers and into the discharge chute H. The dischargechute H comprises an inclined troughshaped chute I'll (Figs. 1 and 4)which extends over one side of the machine. The inner end of the troughis carried on a bracket I12 which is mounted upon and is bolted to thetop of the housing 22.

This completes the operation of reforming the flat can body a into thefinal cylindrical reformed flanged can body at and conditions the bodyfor the reception of a bottom and its top flange is also complete.Producing the can by application of the bottom may be done in the usualwell known manner but this forms no part of the present invention.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacriflcing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flatside parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination ofa flanging die for bending an end of the body wall to form an end flangethereon the while broadening the curve of its sharply curved connectedparts, and reforming rollers engageable with opposite sides of the canbody for reshaping the body walls into tubular form with minimumalteration of said end flange to provide a flanged tubular can body,said reforming rollers having'means thereon to receive said end flangeof said can body while the latter is engaged therebetween.

2. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flatside parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination ofa chute adapted to receive the flat bodies, flanging dies mountedadjacent said chute and insertable into the open ends of a said flatbody to form end flanges thereon the while broadening the curve of itssharply curved connecting parts, and reforming rollers engageable withopposite sides of the can body for reshaping the body walls intocylindrical form with minimum alteration of said flanges, to provide areformed flanged cylindrical can body, said reforming rollers havingmeans thereon to receive said end flanges of said can body while thelatter is engaged therebetween.

3. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flatside parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination 5of a flanging die for bending an end of the body wall to form an endflange thereon the while broadening the curve of its sharply curvedconnected parts, rotatable reshaping rollers having transverse recessesmounted adjacent said flanging dies, and feeding elements for passingsaid flanged body through said reshaping rollers to reshape the bodywalls into cylindrical form, the said flanges of the body extending intosaid roller recesses to minimize alteration of the flanges during thereshaping of the body thereby providing a reformed flanged can body.

4. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flatside parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination ofa chute adapted to receive the flat bodies. flanging dies mountedadjacent said chute, feeding devices for removing a flat can body fromsaid chute and for locating it between said flanging dies, suction meansfor en aging the outside of the flat walls of said positioned can bodyand for pulling the walls apart thus partially opening the body, meansfor moving said dies closer toward one another while said suction meansare holding the body walls separated, at the same time inserting saidflanging dies into the open ends of said held can body to form endflanges thereon while broadening the curve of its sharply curvedconnecting parts, and roller means for reshaping the body walls whilepassing by said end flanges to provide a reformed flanged cylindricalcan body.

5. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flatside parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination oftapered flanging dies, feeding devices for 10- cating a flat can bodybetween said flanging dies, means for inserting said dies into theopposite open ends of a said flat body to form end of said body.

flanges thereon the while broadening the curvev of the sharply curvedconnecting parts, feeding means for further moving said flanged can bodyfrom said flanging dies, and means subsequently operative during saidfurther feeding movement of the can body to engage the same between thesaid end flanges only to complete the reforming WILLIAM E. TAYLORt-Ia.

